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K-State Today Student Edition

February 21, 2012

K-State students host business ethics competition

Submitted by Olivia Blanco

Teams from seven universities competed for $6,500 in monetary awards at the recent 2012 ConocoPhillips Business Ethics Case Competition at Kansas State University.

The event was organized and hosted by the university's chapter of Students in Free Enterprise, which did not compete in the event. Competing teams were from the University of Colorado, the University of Oklahoma, the University of Nebraska, the University of Texas, Texas A&M University, Texas State University and Truman State University.

In the competition, students were asked to develop and present solutions to a business ethics dilemma. Teams were judged on their ability to frame the case scenario, their solution as well as their written and oral presentations. Texas A&M won the top prize of $2,000.

"Each of the teams did very well in the competition," said Bill Turnley, management professor and chair of the ConocoPhillips Excellence in Business Ethics Initiative in the College of Business Administration, which sponsored the competition. "All the teams were ranked in the top three by at least one judge, a testament of the quality of their work and presentations."

This is the third year that the K-State Students in Free Enterprise chapter has joined with the Excellence in Business Ethics Initiative to host this competition. Along with organizing the event, the team serves as a resource to the visiting teams and finds judges for the competition.

"Students' experience of hosting this competition is an authentic education because they get to model and practice project management, marketing, conflict management, interpersonal communication skills, appreciation of diversity, fundraising, and community development," said Donita Whitney-Bammerlin, management instructor in the college, and the Sam Walton fellow for Students in Free Enterprise.

The ConocoPhillips Excellence in Business Ethics Initiative promotes ethical practices and enhances business ethics educations for students at K-State.